DOUBLE BASS

The double bass, also called the upright bass or contra bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra.he name, "double bass," derives from the early use of the instrument to double—an octave lower where possible—the bass part written for the cello.It is a standard member of the string section of the symphony orchestra. and smaller string ensembles in Western Classical Music.In addition, it is used in other genres such as Jazz,1950s-style blues and rock"n" roll,rockabilly/psycho billy,bluegrass and tango.
Double basses are constructed from several types of wood, including maple for the back, spruce for the top, and ebony for the fingerboard. It is uncertain whether the instrument is a descendant of the viola da gamba or from the violin, but it is traditionally aligned with the violin family. While the double bass is nearly identical in construction to violin family instruments, it also has features that derive from the viols.

Like many other string instruments,the double bass is played either with a bow(arco) or by plucking the strings (pizzicato).In orchestral repertoire and tango music, both bowing and plucking styles are used. In jazz, the bass is mostly plucked, except for some solos (and also occasional written parts in Modern Jazz.)that call for the bow. In most other genres, such as blues and rockabilly, the bass is plucked.